Key criteria for identifying a “commons” are2:
Recognition: Resource is recognized as a commons <——→ Resource is not recognized as a commons
Identifiable stakeholders: Users with a stake in the resource are identifiable <——→ No stakeholders are identified or identifiable
Interdependence: Users are interdependent <——→ Users are independent
Vulnerability: The resource is vulnerable to failure (such as depletion, degradation, privatization, etc.) in the future <——→ The resource is unthreatened
Participatory maintenance: The resource requires participatory management <——→ The resource is self-sustaining
Rules: Appropriate rules are necessary to govern the resource <——→ Rules are not needed
Self-governance: The rules are created from within <——→ The rules are created by outsiders or from the top down
